JP2006502398A - Apparatus and method for acoustic measurement by marker microphone in space - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for acoustic measurement, the apparatus comprising an acoustic measurement antenna set (4) comprising at least one microphone (5), a set (3) for acoustic measurement, and a microphone. An ultrasonically-transmitted antenna having at least one ultrasonic transmitter (12) attached to the antenna at a known distance relative to the base and a base (14) for ultrasonically receiving signals transmitted from each transmitter A control unit for the position determination system (11) of (4), the position determination system (11) of the antenna (4), and the acoustic measuring instrument (3), each transmitter ( By sequentially controlling the transmission of 12), the position of the antenna is determined, and the acquisition operation of the microphone (5) is controlled in the second phase. , And a control unit adapted for carrying out the acoustic measurement (16) by the measuring instrument.

Description

  The present invention generally relates to an acoustic measurement technique in a measurement zone where a three-dimensional position needs to be known.

  More particularly, the invention relates to the measurement of an acoustic field coming from a source that may be direct or indirect as well as single or multiple, the measurement being identified in three dimensions and located in a sound source environment. Is executed.

  A particularly advantageous application of the invention is acoustic measurement in a building or vehicle room (cabin or vehicle) space, or in an environment with a sound source such as an engine or machine.

  In many fields, there is a need to perform acoustic measurements, for example, to determine the characteristics of one or more sound sources, particularly for the purpose of reducing its effects. For example, in order to determine the characteristics of the sound field (single or multiple), in order to determine the characteristics of the audible sound field for the purpose of performing acoustic measurements outdoors, or in particular to reduce its effects, It is necessary to perform acoustic measurement inside the passenger compartment.

  In order to perform acoustic measurement, a method of using an acoustic measurement apparatus having a measuring instrument including an acoustic measurement antenna equipped with a series of microphones is generally known. Such an acoustic measurement antenna is usually carried by a robot arm, and the three-dimensional position of the robot arm is determined by a measurement sensor.

  However, these measuring devices are unsatisfactory in practice because they are quite large in weight and size and are not suitable for use in restricted and unordered spaces such as cabins.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an acoustic measurement device designed to occupy a small volume while at the same time realizing an accurate and reliable acquisition of a measurement value of an acoustic field coming from one or more sound sources. It is intended to improve the disadvantages.

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, an acoustic measurement device is provided,
An acoustic measuring instrument having in particular an acoustic measuring antenna fitted with at least one microphone;
At least one ultrasonic emitter attached to the antenna at a known distance to the microphone, and an ultrasonic receiver base adapted to receive the signal emitted by each emitter and to determine the position of each emitter in three dimensions A positioning system for determining the position of the antenna by means of ultrasonic waves,
A control unit that controls a position determination system that performs position determination of an antenna and an acoustic measuring instrument. In the first stage, the control system irradiates each emitter in order, thereby positioning the antenna in a third order. A control system that is originally determined, and in a second stage, causes the microphone to perform an acquisition operation and performs acoustic measurements using the instrument;
have.

  The present invention also seeks to provide a method that is easy to implement and adapted to perform acoustic measurements in zones that are identified with high precision in three dimensions.

In order to achieve this object, the acoustic measurement method of the present invention is
Mounting an acoustic measurement antenna having at least one microphone with at least one ultrasonic emitter mounted at a known distance from the microphone;
Placing the acoustic measurement antenna at a position stationary relative to the sound source;
Placing an ultrasonic receiver base opposite the antenna, the receiver base receiving an ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic emitter and determining the position of the emitter; Stages,
Radiating each ultrasonic emitter in turn, and allowing the ultrasonic receiver base to determine the position of each emitter and consequently the position of each microphone, and radiating to all ultrasonic emitters After completing the step of performing the acquisition operation by controlling the microphone, and performing sound measurement of the sound source,
have.

In an alternative embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises placing a reference structure in a stationary position, the structure defining at least one reference marker comprising at least three points. When,
By emitting each ultrasound emitter of an acoustic pointer with at least two emitters in turn and performing this for each position of the pointer placed on each point of the reference marker, Allowing the position of a reference marker point to be determined within a reference frame associated with an ultrasound receiver base position;
It has further.

According to another feature of the invention, the method of the invention includes, in addition to the above steps, the step of moving the ultrasonic receiver base and placing it in the second stationary position in order to expand the target range of acoustic measurement. When,
For each position of the pointer placed on each point of the fiducial marker, another fiducial associated with this second position of the ultrasonic receiver base by emitting in turn the respective ultrasonic emitter of the pointer. Making it possible to determine the position of the reference marker point in the frame;
Determining the position of the microphone within a single reference frame based on the position of the reference marker points at the first and second positions of the ultrasonic receiver base;
have.

  Various other features will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example and not limitation the subject matter of the present invention.

  As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an apparatus 1 for performing acoustic measurements that require position determination in three dimensions. That is, the device 1 is identified as a position, for example, to pick up a sound field coming from one or more sound sources, directly or indirectly, for example because the walls pass sound or leak sound. It is supposed to work in a place. In a particularly advantageous manner, the device 1 is adapted to perform acoustic measurements inside a closed enclosure 2, which in this example consists of a passenger compartment. In this embodiment (and also generally), the sound source is a single source (engine noise) or multiple sources (engine noise and coming from outside the passenger compartment). And noise that can be heard inside the passenger compartment). Naturally, the device 1 according to the present invention can be used for other purposes such as performing acoustic measurements in a residence, or performing acoustic measurements in an open (or closed) environment of a sound source such as a machine. It can be applied to other applications.

  The device 1 has an acoustic measurement device 3 that has in particular an acoustic measurement antenna 4 fitted with at least one microphone (in the example shown, a series of microphones 5), the number of microphones being Depends on the desired accuracy, the target frequency range, and the size of the zone in which the acoustic measurement is performed. The microphone 5 is connected to an acoustic measurement unit 6 that measures a signal acquired by the microphone 5 by a conventional method. The various processing functions of the unit 6 are well known and constitute a part of the technical knowledge of those skilled in the art, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted below.

  As shown more precisely in FIGS. 2 and 3, the acoustic measurement antenna 4 in the illustrated example has 64 microphones extending in one plane and distributed over 8 columns and 8 rows. 5 These microphones 5 are attached to a support portion 7 that forms a kind of frame by a cross member. These microphones 5 are connected to the processor unit 6 by connection 8.

  According to the features of the preferred embodiment, the acoustic measurement antenna 4 is fitted with a member 9 that holds the antenna in place, and in the case of the illustrated example, the member 9 is: It consists of a holding and control handle. That is, portability is imparted to the antenna 4 by the handle 9 extending from the support portion 7. The handle 9 is preferably movably attached to the acoustic measurement antenna 4. For this purpose, the handle 9 is movably attached to the antenna 4 about the hinge shaft 10 that realizes turning with respect to the support portion, and smoothly determines the position of the acoustic measurement antenna 4.

The device 1 also has a system 11 in which the acoustic measurement antenna 4 can be positioned using an ultrasonic method. The purpose of this system 11 is to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the acoustic measurement antenna 4. The position determination system 11 has at least one (four in the illustrated example) ultrasonic emitter 12 attached to the acoustic measurement antenna 4 at a known distance from the microphone 5. It should be understood that the microphones 5 must be separated from each other by a known distance and that each ultrasonic emitter 12 must be located at a known distance from at least one microphone 5. The number of ultrasonic emitters 12 depends on the type of antenna used. An ultrasonic emitter 12 is attached to the acoustic measurement antenna 4 as follows.
When the antenna 4 has one microphone 5, one ultrasonic emitter 12 is attached,
If the antenna 4 has a series of microphones 5 arranged in a straight line, at least two ultrasonic emitters 12 are mounted,
If the antenna 4 has a series of microphones 5 arranged as one surface, at least three ultrasonic emitters 12 are mounted,
When the antenna 4 has a series of microphones 5 arranged in three dimensions, at least four ultrasonic emitters 12 are mounted.

  In the illustrated example, the acoustic measurement antenna 4 is configured as a surface, and four ultrasonic emitters 12 are mounted as a safety measure when one of the emitters 12 is masked.

  The apparatus 1 also includes an ultrasonic receiver base 14 that receives signals emitted by the respective ultrasonic emitters 12. The ultrasonic receiver base 14 is also adapted to determine the three-dimensional position of each ultrasonic emitter 12 and, consequently, the three-dimensional position of the microphone 5 (or more generally, the antenna 4). ing. This base 14 determines the three-dimensional position of the ultrasonic emitter 12 using a direction detection method or an interferometry method in a known manner. For this purpose, the base 14 is equipped with at least three ultrasonic receivers and a processor and computer means for determining the three-dimensional position of the ultrasonic emitter 12 (and consequently the antenna 4).

Note that the positioning accuracy of the antenna 4 depends directly on the position of the ultrasonic receiver base 4 in the beam of the emitter 2. In general, the best accuracy of the emitter position can be obtained when the base 14 is on the axis of the emitter 12. Thus, according to a preferred feature of the present invention, each of the ultrasonic emitter 12, on the antenna 4 is mounted on the movable support ₇₁ to achieve the adjustment to the ultrasonic receiver-based axes of the emitter 12 . The movable supporting member ₇₁ which is configured in the form of a cardan joint, it is possible to adjust each of the axes of the emitter 12 in the two planes.

The device 1 also has a control unit 16 for controlling the position determination system 11 and the acoustic measuring instrument 3. The control unit 16 includes means for allowing the base 14 to determine the position of the antenna 4 by causing each emitter 12 to radiate in turn in the first stage T ₁ (FIG. 4). After the first stage T ₁ is completed, the unit 16 is in the second stage T _2, by executing the acquiring operation to the microphone 5, to perform the acoustic measurement using acoustic measurement unit 6. The position of the microphone 5 determined by the ultrasonic receiver base 14 is supplied to the measurement unit 6. As a result, the geometric position of each microphone 5 is determined and supplied to the acoustic measurement unit 6.

  The acoustic measurement device 1 of the present invention operates in a system that is directly derived from the above description. It should be noted that the acoustic measurement method described below relates to acoustic measurement performed in the passenger compartment 2 of the automobile, but it should be understood that the method of the present invention can also be used in a measurement situation that is not closed (open). Applicable also in the medium).

The acoustic measurement antenna 4 is arranged at a fixed position with respect to the sound source. That is, for example, an operator carrying the antenna 4 holds the acoustic measurement antenna 4 in a predetermined position by the handle 9. Then, the ultrasonic receiver base 14 is disposed so as to face the antenna 4 in a relationship capable of “acoustic observation”. As a result, the ultrasonic receiver base 14 receives the ultrasonic signals radiated from the respective ultrasonic emitters 12 attached at a known distance from the microphone 5 attached to the acoustic measurement antenna 4. As shown in FIG. 4, this method involves superimposing by emitting each of the ultrasonic emitters 12 (indicated by reference numerals 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ , 12 ₃ , 12 ₄ ) in turn. The step includes allowing the sonic receiver base 14 to determine the position of the respective ultrasonic emitter (and thus the respective microphone 5). For this purpose, the operator causes each ultrasonic emitter 12 to radiate, for example, by using a control button 17 arranged on the handle 9. When the determination of the position of the first ultrasonic emitter 12 by the ultrasonic receiver base 14 is completed, a signal is transmitted to stop emission from the ultrasonic emitter 12. The operator then emits the second ultrasonic emitter 12 so that the ultrasonic receiver base 14 can determine its position. This operation is repeated for each of the ultrasonic emitters 12 (ie, all four ultrasonic emitters in the illustrated example).

At the end of this first stage T _1, the ultrasonic emitter 12 (as well, as a result, the microphone 5) three-dimensional position of the turn out. The second stage T ₂ of the method then comprises the step of acquiring an acoustic signal (in the audible band) using the microphone 5. For this purpose, for example, the operator presses the control button 18 disposed on the handle 9 to cause the microphone 5 to execute an acquisition operation, thereby executing sound measurement of the sound source.

  The acoustic instrument 3 (and in particular the processor means 6) acquires the signals detected by the respective microphones 5 (the positions in these three dimensions are known and determined by the ultrasonic receiver base 14). And function to process.

  It should be noted that the above two steps are executed with the acoustic measurement antenna 4 and the ultrasonic receiver base 14 maintained at fixed positions. Of course, these two steps can subsequently be repeated at other possible positions of the acoustic measurement antenna 4. By arranging antennas in various three-dimensional zones, an acoustic field can be acquired in various zones separated from the ultrasonic receiver base 14. However, the acoustic measurement antenna 4 must always be arranged so as to be positioned “in the acoustic field of view” of the ultrasonic receiver base 14 (that is, “in the field of view” in terms of the range and angle aperture of the ultrasonic beam). Note that this is not possible.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which a space for performing measurement, that is, for determining the position of the antenna 4 is enlarged. In this variant, the device 1 has a system 20 for determining the position of the ultrasonic receiver base 14. The positioning system 20 has a fixed reference structure 21 that defines at least one reference marker comprising at least three points P _i . The position determination system 20 also includes a movable acoustic pointer 22 on which at least two ultrasonic emitters 23 are mounted. The position determination system 20 also forms part of the control unit 16, for example, for each position of the pointer relative to the point of the reference marker, and for each position B ₁ , B ₂ ,. .., By sequentially radiating the ultrasonic emitter 22 of the acoustic pointer 22 to determine the position of the point of the reference marker within the reference frame associated with the respective position of the receiver base, a single common reference frame It also has control and processor means which function to determine the three-dimensional position of the antenna 4 therein.

  The implementation of the position determination system 20 for the ultrasonic base 14 is as described above.

The reference structure 21 is placed in a stationary state in the space 2 where the measurement values are acquired. The acoustic pointer 22 is placed on the first point P _i of the reference marker. At this position, the three-dimensional position is determined by the ultrasonic receiver base 14 by radiating the pointer to the first ultrasonic emitter 23 as described above. Next, similarly, by radiating the second ultrasonic emitter 23 of the acoustic pointer 22, the three-dimensional position is determined by the ultrasonic receiver base 14. If the distance between the end of the pointer in contact with one of the ultrasonic emitters 23 and the point P _i of the reference marker and the distance between the two emitters 23 of the acoustic pointer are known, the ultrasonic receiver base 14 is The coordinates of the first point P _i of the reference marker can be determined. The ultrasonic receiver base 14 calculates the coordinates by using a position detection method or interference spectroscopy according to a conventional method.

Next, the acoustic pointer 22 is placed on the second point P _i of the reference marker, and the above-described sound acquisition step is executed to determine the coordinates of the second point P _i of this reference marker. This step is repeated for the third position of the acoustic pointer 22 arranged with respect to the third point P _i of the reference marker.

At the end of this acquisition phase, the three-dimensional position of the reference marker point P _i is determined in the reference frame associated with the position B ₁ of the ultrasound receiver base 14.

  In this way, the antenna 4 can be moved and the above-described sound acquisition step can be performed once or multiple times.

When it is necessary to perform measurement outside the acoustic visual field direction of the ultrasonic receiver base 14 arranged at the first position B ₁ , as shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic receiver base 14 it can be moved to the second position within B _2. At the second stationary position B ₂ , the acoustic pointer 22 is placed on the point P _{i of the} reference marker, and the ultrasonic emitters 23 are sequentially radiated to thereby position the points P _i of the reference marker. Can be determined by the above-described method using the ultrasonic receiver base 14. That is, as described above, the other two points P _i of the reference marker are successively acquired by moving the acoustic pointer 22 and sequentially radiating each of the ultrasonic emitters 23. In this way, the position of the point P _i of the reference marker is determined in three dimensions in another reference frame associated with the second position B ₂ of the ultrasonic receiver base 14 by the ultrasonic receiver base 14. Can do. Then, the determinant for conversion between the positions of the base 14 can be estimated based on the knowledge of the position of the point P _i of the stationary reference marker in the two reference frames associated with the ultrasonic receiver base 14. As a result, even when the ultrasonic receiver base 14 moves, the coordinates of the microphone 5 can be expressed in a single reference frame. Of course, the ultrasonic receiver base 14 could be moved multiple times. It would also be conceivable for the fixed reference structure 20 to have a plurality of reference markers spaced from each other by a known distance.

  Since various modifications can be made to the examples described and illustrated in the above without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

It is the schematic which shows the example of 1 application of the acoustic measuring device by this invention. 1 is an overall view of an acoustic measurement antenna constituting a part of a device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the acoustic measurement antenna shown in FIG. 2. It is a timing chart which shows the method by which the acoustic measuring device by this invention operate | moves. It is a figure which shows the deformation | transformation embodiment of the acoustic measuring device by this invention.

Claims (9)

An acoustic measuring instrument (3) having in particular an acoustic measuring antenna (4) fitted with at least one microphone (5);
To receive at least one ultrasonic emitter (12) attached to the antenna at a known distance relative to the microphone and signals emitted from each emitter and to determine the position of each three-dimensional emitter. A positioning system (11) for determining the position of the antenna (4) by means of ultrasound with an adapted ultrasonic receiver base (14);
A control unit (16) for controlling the position determination system (11) for determining the position of the antenna (4) and the acoustic measuring instrument (3), the control system in the first stage, respectively; The emitters (12) are sequentially radiated to determine the position of the three-dimensional antenna, and in the second stage, the microphone (5) performs an acquisition operation, and the instrument is used to perform acoustic measurement. A control unit that is adapted to
An acoustic measurement device comprising:   When the acoustic measurement antenna (4) has one microphone (5), a single ultrasonic emitter (12) is attached and a series of microphones (5) arranged in a straight line is provided. If at least two ultrasonic emitters (12) are mounted, and if they have a series of microphones (5) arranged as surfaces, then at least three ultrasonic emitters (12) are mounted, 2. The acoustic measurement according to claim 1, wherein in the case of having a series of microphones (5) arranged three-dimensionally, at least four ultrasonic emitters (12) are mounted. apparatus. Each of the ultrasound emitter (12), said in order to adjust the axis of the emitter to the ultrasonic receiver-based, on the antenna, and characterized by being mounted on the movable support ₍₇₁₎ The acoustic measuring device according to claim 1 or 2.   A member (9) for holding the antenna in a fixed position is attached to the acoustic measurement antenna (4), and the member is movably attached to the antenna. The acoustic measurement device according to any one of 1 to 3. A system (20) for determining the position of the receiver base (14), the system comprising:
A fixed reference structure (21) defining at least one reference marker having at least three points (P _i );
A movable acoustic pointer (22) fitted with at least two ultrasonic emitters (23);
For each position of the pointer associated with the three points (P _i ) of the reference marker and for each position of the receiver base (14), the superimposition of the acoustic pointer (22) The position of the point of the reference marker in a reference frame associated with the respective position of the receiver base is determined by controlling and emitting sound wave emitters (23) in sequence within a single reference frame Control and processing means that allow the position of the antenna to be determined;
The acoustic measurement device according to claim 1, wherein A method for acoustically measuring a sound source,
Mounting at least one ultrasonic emitter (12) mounted at a known distance from the microphone (5) to an acoustic measurement antenna (4) having at least one microphone (5);
Placing the acoustic measurement antenna (4) at a position stationary relative to the sound source;
Disposing an ultrasonic receiver base (14) to face the antenna (4), wherein the receiver base receives an ultrasonic signal emitted from the ultrasonic emitter (12) and transmits the emitter ( 12) to determine the position of, and
Each ultrasonic emitter (12) is radiated in turn, and the ultrasonic receiver base (14) determines the position of each emitter (12), so that the position of each microphone (5) can be determined. And the stage of
After completing the step of radiating to all of the ultrasonic emitters (12), controlling the microphone (5) to perform an acquisition operation and performing acoustic measurement of the sound source;
A method characterized by comprising: Placing a reference structure (21) in a stationary position, said structure defining at least one reference marker comprising at least three points (P _i );
Each ultrasonic emitter (23) of the acoustic pointer (22) equipped with at least two emitters (23) is radiated in turn and is arranged on each point (P _i ) of the reference marker. This can be done for each position of the pointer (22) to determine the position of the point of the reference marker within a reference frame associated with the position of the ultrasound receiver base (14). And the stage of
The method of claim 6 comprising: Moving the ultrasonic receiver base (14) to a second stationary position;
Each ultrasonic emitter (23) of the pointer (22) is radiated in turn for each position of the pointer arranged on each reference point (P _i ) of the reference marker, thereby the super Allowing the position of the point of the reference marker to be determined in another reference frame associated with the second position of the sonic receiver base;
Determining the position of the microphone (5) within a single reference frame based on the position of the point of the reference marker at the first and second positions of the ultrasonic receiver base (14);
8. The method of claim 7, comprising:   Method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises the step of determining the position of the emitter (12) using direction detection or interferometry.

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